Phi Kappa Phi

Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective multidisciplinary collegiate honor society. It recognizes and promotes academic excellence in all fields of higher education and engages the community of scholars in service to others. The society's motto is Φιλοσοφία Kρατείτω Φωτῶν (Philosophía Krateítõ Phõtôn), which is translated as "Let the love of learning rule humanity," and its mission is "to recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others.”


Further information about the national organization, including member benefits, may be
obtained here.

Westmont has been home to a chapter of Phi Kappa Phi since 1976. Its yearly activities
include:

  • The Phi Kappa Phi Paul C Wilt Lectures: The series was founded to honor long-time member of the Westmont History Department, Paul Wilt and to showcase some of our finest academic work twice a year for a general audience. The series has long provided some of the high points of our lectures & programs calendar, and is unusual in that, in addition to the main lecture, two faculty members each give ten-minute responses.
  • Banquet: a banquet or other induction event is held each year to induct new members and to recognize and celebrate their academic achievements. Normally, this event takes place during the spring semester.
  • Sophomore Scholarships: up to two sophomore students may be nominated for a scholarship in the amount of $500 or more in support of their undergraduate study.
  • Postgraduate Fellowships: active members are eligible to apply for a variety of fellowships to support postgraduate study. Applications must be made through the local chapter, and each chapter may nominate no more than one application to the national competition.
    • General information about the fellowship may be obtained here.
    • As the website indicates, the national deadline is April 15, however for the Westmont chapter to review and select applications for nominations, we will need to receive completed applications by March 15.  The national website contains a full description of what is required for an application.

Membership: seniors may be invited to apply for membership if they are in the top ten percent
of their class by GPA; juniors may be invited if they are in the top five percent.

Current (2020-21) faculty officers are: President Dr. Mark Nelson (Philosophy), Vice-President
Dr. Helen Rhee (Religious Studies), and Secretary/Treasurer Maryke VanderWalt
(Mathematics); student officers: Winston Gee, Phoebe Wicks.